Can with self-closing lid.



L. SGHOTT.

CAN WITH SELF CLOSING LID.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 27, 1911.

Patented Jun 4, 1212.

I! H HI ll 1 IIIJHH UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

."LOUIS SCHOTT, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO CINCINNATI GALVANIZING COH- PANY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

CAN WITH SELF-CLOSING LID.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 4, 1912.

To all whom it may concern:

lie it known that I, Loris SCno'rr, a citi- -'/.en of the l nited States, and a resident of Cincinnati, -llamilton county, State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful (an with Self-Closing Lid; and I do declare the. following to be a clear, full, and exact description of the invention, attention being called to the drawing which accompanies this application and forms a part thereof.

This invention relates to improvements in cans, the lid of which closes automatically to prevent them being carelessly left uncovered and to guard against objectionable incidents caused thereby as for instance in case of refuse cans.

The invention consists of the means whereby the lid is connected to the body of a can in a manner to obtain the desired results.-

In the following specification and particularly pointed out in the claim at the end thereof will be found a full description of my invention, together with it-s'operation, parts and construction, which latter is also illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in.

Which:-

Figure 1, is a side-elevation of my improved can with its lid in closing position. Fig. 2, is anotherside-elevation of it with the lid inopen position. Fig. 3, is a topview of the can as it appears in Fig. 2. Fig.

' 4. is an enlarged section on line 41 of Fig. 2. Figs. 5, 6 and 7, show, somewhat enlarged, difi'erent forms of one of the parts used in the construction of the lid-attaching means.

In the drawing, A indicates the body of the can and B the lid thereof. This latter is in form of a cap of which b is the side which is fitted over the upper edge of the can-body and may seat against a bead a thereon.

The lid is connected to the can-body by means of a hinge consisting of two complementary members, one of which is connected to the lid and the other to the body and which members are in sliding as well as in rotary engagement with each other and may also be entirely disconnectedfrom each other to permit complete removal of the lid from the body. One of these members is a pin connected to the lid and the other is a cylindrical socket D connected to the body of the can and into which the pin is fitted to permit rotation of it as well as sliding movement. As shown, the pin at one ofits ends is connected to the outside of the lidcand so as to extend downwardly from the edge thereof and close to the outer side of the wall of the body. The socket is connected to this'outer side in a position to receive the pin. The attachment of this latter is with its upper end to an overhanging bracket 9 riveted to the top of the lid and projecting over the side of the same; The connection of socket D is by means of lugs 10, which lie againstthe outer side of the can-body. The socket might be a complete cylinder as shown in Fig. 1, or it might be partly open between its ends as shown in Fig. 2, to reduce weight.

11 are the handles of the can and the position of socket D, with reference to them, is so as to be close to one of them so as to be out of the way when the can is sidewise leaned upon the edge of a wagon-bed for the purpose of having its contents dumped.

12 is the handle whereby the lid is manipulated it forming a part of bracket 9, and they constitute preferably an integral castmg.

It will now be seen that the lid may be entirely removed from the can by raising it up by means of handle 12, until pin C has left socket- D. This may be done when the can is to be emptied.

It is not necessary when access is merely desired to the can to permit deposit of any matter in which case the lid is only raised sufficiently to clear the upper edge of the can. after which it is swung sidewise more or less as shown in FigsJQ and 3 an: according to the amount of opening required.

In order to compel the automatic return of the lid to its normal or closing position upon the mouth of the can I provide a pin and socket with a cam-formation and with a complementary projection which interacts therewith. The cam-formation is provided on pin C and the complementary projection inside of socket D. This cam-formation is obtained by means of a groove the upper part of which is straight that is parallel to the axis of the pin .as shown at 13, after which continuing downwardly it curves to one side as shown at 14, being then again directed parallel to the axis as shown at. 15 in which direction it extends to the lower end of the pin where it runs out. (o-acting with this groove there is a projection 16 which extends from the inner side of the socket into said groove. The presence of "the straight part 13 of the groove compels a straight uplift of the lid in order to disen-. gage it from the upper end of the cam. The

-' raising motion being continued, the curved merely and after the matter to be deposited is thrown into the can, the lid requires no further attention. The grasp on handle 12 is simply released after which the lid seats itself by means of its weight, it swinging back first over the can-top while the curved part 14 of the cam-groove slides over projection 16, after which, when the straight part 13 of thegroove is re'engaged by said projection, the lid drops upon the can and closes the same. I

As shown in Fig. 6, part 1-1 of the groove below its straight part is simply duplicated so that the lid after being lifted otf from the can may swing to either side.

Since one side of the curved part 14 of the cam-groove is instrumental only, in connection with projection 16, to cause the lid to swing back over the can-top, the lower side of the groove may be entirely omitted in which case a formation results as shown in Fig. 7, in which the lower part of pin C is cut away slantingly as shown at 17 The straight part 13 of the groove simply runs out onto the upper part of this slanting surface. Projection 16 is located correspondingly farther down in socket D, so that the straight lift required atthe opening manipulation remains the same.

To prevent one not acquainted with the manipulation of the canfrom raising the vlid higher thannecessary and to an extent causing pin C to leave socket D, which is only necessary when the can is to be emptied, the lower straight part 15 of the groove, instead of being continued straight'down to the lower end of the pin as shown in Fig. 2 may be shaped to form a short turn as shown at 18 in Fig. 6, thereby forming an impediment to any further lift which serves as an indication to discontinue the lifting movement. It doesnot prevent however complete disengagement if desired when the lid is to, be detached and a slight turn merely causes the continuation 19 of the groove to clear projection 16, after which pin C may be entirely lift-ed out as before. The lower end of the groove is slightly widened as shown at 20 to facilitate entrance of projection 16 into the groove when pin C is reinserted.

Having described my invention, I claim as new:. I

The combination of a cylindrical canbody provided with diametrically spaced handles, acylindrical socket open at its upper end, secured to the outside of this body parallel to its axis and close to one of the handles thereon, a projection provided in this socket between its ends, a cap for this can-body fitted with its side over the upper edge of this latter, a handle provided on this cap and extended to form a bracket which overhangs the can-body and a pin depending from the bracket and fitted to the socket on the can-body, said pin being pro vided with a cam-groove adapted to receive the projection in said socket, said groove being shaped to form an upper portion parallel to'the axis of the pin which, under normal conditions, is occupied by the projection' in the socket, anv intermediate curved portion and a lower portion which is again parallel to the axis of the pin so that, when the cap is raised by means of its handle, it is first caused-to move straight upwardly until free of the can-body, after which it is caused to turn away from the can-body to render the same accessible and finally, the raising movement being continued, it becomes entirely disengaged from the can.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses. LOUIS SCHOTT.

Witnesses C. SPENGEL, T. LE BEAN. 

